The Mess Hall

I enter the Mess Hall with Zachary. I turn to him.

- Now do you think we can eat at the same table? I asked.

"'Course." Zack said, grabbing an average helping of food that looked appetizing, throwing the best of it in the fire, and sitting down at an empty table.

Remember your promise.

Right.

"I think I interrogated you long enough, do you have any questions for me?" He asked, cutting a piece of steak, eating as gentlemanly as he could.

I took some tiropitas, threw the two best of them into the fire, and sat in front of Zack.

- Sure... how did you come to camp? And how did you learn about you being a demigod?

"Ah. Well, at the age of ten I moved here to New York, close to camp. Before that I was born in Elgin, Illinois. After two years of school, a Scythian Dracanae tried to kill me. One of my acquaintances, Nicholas, a satyr, then rushed me over to camp half blood. He told me that I was a demigod, a son of Zeus. Half way there the Scythian Dracanae caught us, in which I summoned a lightning bolt and killed it. Nearly passed out after that. I admit, it wasn't too hard to believe you were a demigod when as a kid you stuck a fork into an electrical socket and weren't electrocuted." He told, taking a bite of the steak.

"And what of you?" Zack asked.

I imagined Zack as a little boy sticking forks into plugs and laughed.

"Oh me..." I said. "It's a long story. I grew up in Berlin. I lived in a family which, well... isn't my biological family, but I didn't know it back then. Thing is, I had a friend there (well "had", she's still my friend), we have known each other for several years. A really beautiful girl. Magnificent, you know, with bright red short hair and gold-brown eyes. Slim, busty, everything you want. Her name is Leila. We were in the same class, and one day, on our way home, we were attacked by a Scythian Drakanae - just like you. And there it all started. After killing the Drakanae, she told me she was an empousa my mother sent to protect me. She explained to me all the fuss about the Second Titanomachia, and that Trivia, my mother, couldn't claim me until the end of the War (because she was on the Titans' side, as you know), otherwise I would have been killed not only by monsters but by other more powerful beings on the gods' side. Then she gave me Apokryphos, my weapon, and my shield, disguised as leather bracelet. And after that, she made up an excuse for my adoptive family, we took the plane to USA and she led me here. And now, I don't know where she is..."

I drank some water to wet my dry throat, then took another mouthful of tiropita.

"Ah. You were luckier than I. I had no weapons until I made my own sword and shield, a couple of days after I fought the Scythian Dracanae, with the help of some Hephaestus's sons. I'm hoping one day my dad gives me a cool weapon or something, but I'm fine with the basics." Zack rambled on, having a bit of mashed potatoes and having a drink of sweet tea.

"I feel bad for you moving away from your friends, though. I never had very many friends, and even the friends I did have I never told them much. I'm usually shy- although with you I'm surprised I said anything at all. I think during any other day I'd probably just sit quietly and hope you don't talk to me, as I would be pretty nervous. Well, I think more nervous than I am now." He chuckled to himself.

I swallowed my mouthful and looked at him.

- Yeah, I have the impression of being a "lucky" demigod, I said. I mean, nearly every other demigod I talked to had had a difficult past, with no friends (too busy surviving), chased around by monsters...

I drank some water.

- Uh, you know, it's not only my friends, it's my whole adoptive family too. I feel bad not to tell them about... you know... my "real" mother. I think I'm gonna send them an Iris-message to explain the whole thing. They deserve to know. And I don't wanna loose contact either.

Having finished my meal (I never ate much at dinner, it was a german habit), I pushed away my plate, and a nymph came and took it away. I looked at Zack.

- I'm sorry for you... I mean, for your not having friends. It's really a bad thing. But I guess you have a lot here, don't you?

"Nope. The only friend I have here is you. I know it's a bit weird to be here for four years and still have no friends, but you have to understand that I keep to myself 99.99992 percent of the time. I guess this explains why I talk to myself often," Zack smirked. "But I make sure I only do that alone. If you can't find me in my cabin, I'm out in the woods." He quietly laughed. He finished his mashed potatoes gentlemanly and drank some tea.

"And to be honest, it's nothing to be sorry about. There's something about living in solitude that opens your mind and enlightens you." He said wisely and cut his steak for a bite.

I looked at him thoughtfully.

- You're an interesting person, you know. I never met someone like you. And, may I say, I'm happy to be your friend. And happy to having made you speak.

I laughed a bit, and waited for him to finish his meal.

"Thank you," He made what little bow he could sitting down.

"I'm happy I had to opportunity to talk to such an amazing person as you." He smiled, and finished his meal, pushing his plate away so a nymph could take it.

- Thanks, I smiled, putting a strain of hair behind my ear.

The sun had now completely disappeared behind the sea, and some stars had started shining in the sky.
I felt a sudden rise in my strength, like every time the night came over me.
My smile grew larger, and I looked back at Zack.

- What do you wanna do now, I asked him.

I wasn't tired at all, on the contrary. I felt strangely awake and present.

"Well, according to media, now would be the time I walk you home to finish this date and tell you it would be wonderful to meet you again, and hope for a second date. It's all up to you, though. I guess we can go to the stables, but that's the only idea I have. Or, I guess we could go to the forest, but there's nothing really to do there. It's your choice, my dear." Zack said, running his fingers through his shoulder length hair almost subconsciously.

I smiled and stood up.

- I prefer the forest, I said. We can go to the stables tomorrow.

Zack stood up also.

Hear that? Second date tomorrow! Time to do a back flip when I'm alone.

Save that victory dance for later, we're going to the forest.

You mean the one that has nothing to do in it?

There's only one forest, you know.

But what are we going to do there? Give her a tour? 'There's a rock, and a couple of trees...hey look, another tree! And some more rocks!'

Climb them.

For what purpose?

I don't know, it sounded good.

Time to wing it, then.

"Then let us go." He said. He almost tried to hold her hand, but stopped his motion because he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. Zack led her off to the forest.

[indigo] "Psyching me out! Messing with my mind! I cant do it to you, but you can do it to me!" Tears started to stream down her cheeks. "Stop it!" Iola said covering her ears.

"I told you, your thoughts were too loud! It hurts!" Iola shrieked, shaking David off her

[indigo] "Stop that! Stop it!" Iola yelped. "I can't help it. Don't do that, it makes it worse!"

[indigo] Iola gasped for breath. "I cant help hearing thoughts, yours were louder than usual. And don't force thoughts to me, the noise is deafening already." Iola whimpered.

"It means you have a lot of will power. If you stopped thinking for a moment, I might be able to read your soul."